What’s on the menu?

Adopting the interactive menuzine format at Jigger & Pony, “Rising City” aims to distil the spirit of Jakarta, along with its people and stories, into tasteful tipples. Divided into categories, expect the likes of locale-specific creations and the use of trendy spirits like the fast-growing tequila. 

In the section of Today, Tomorrow, Tequila, the signature Tequila Cosmo is one to get acquainted with. Transforming the classic Cosmopolitan into a modern oat milk punch, it replaces vodka with blanco tequila; swaps out cranberry for locally sourced roselle; and adds a splash of Cointreau and some lime into the mix. A finishing brush of smoked orange paint, redolent of citrus and lapsang souchong tea, lines the glassware before a serve—a tribute to Dale Degroff, a bartender at New York City’s Rainbow Room who popularised the definitive recipe of the classic with his flamed orange zest garnish in the ’90s. 

Another section worthy of mention is The Largest Producer, given Indonesia’s role in producing tropical ingredients in abundance. For most folks, a black and freckled banana means that it is way past its prime for consumption. But not when it comes to making the Ugly Bananas. The sour-style tipple exclusively uses overripe bananas as the fruit is the most flavourful and perfect for flavour extraction at this commonly discarded stage. The flesh is infused with whisky while peels are baked and turned into a jelly garnish to pay contrast to the yellow-tinted serve.

Before the doors open

Tipplers in Southeast Asia are in for a treat. As part of the preview of Cosmo Pony’s “Rising City” menu, the entourage will stop by some of the best watering holes in the region. First stop, Penrose will play host on April 28 (9pm to late) with a debuting selection of cocktails as part of the inaugural Kuala Lumpur Cocktail Week. Singapore’s Jigger & Pony will play host to an epic takeover as part of the group’s 12th anniversary celebration on May 8 (8pm to late). The regional showcase will see bars hailing from the Indonesian cocktail contingent: familiar stalwarts like The Cocktail Club, Pantja, and Wishbone; to up-and-coming fresh faces such as The Golden Tooth and Naaga. Last stop, Bangkok concludes the final leg of the tour at the 4th Wall on June 11 (8pm to late) before the doors officially open in Jakarta.

Expanding overseas for the first time

The homegrown hospitality group has never been shy about its intentions to expand its horizons. In 12 years, it has built an impressive agglomeration of seven bars and restaurants in Singapore, including the flagship Jigger & Pony which currently sits on the No.14 spot in The World’s 50 Best Bars. Now, it finally finds bearings outside of the Little Red Dot. But why Jakarta?

“As I am Indonesian, Guoyi and I travel to Jakarta regularly to visit family and friends. With each trip, we are buoyed by the energy of Jakarta. We see a rising city that is becoming more cosmopolitan. There’s also a palpable sense of energy and enthusiasm among the guests and bartenders in the city,” enthused Indra Kantono, co-founder of Jigger & Pony Group. “Plus, Jakartans love to socialise and to party.” 

In recent years, the cocktail scene has been growing steadily in Jakarta. It is now home to two bars on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, led by The Union Group’s The Cocktail Club and followed by Pantja, ranking No.19 and No.29 respectively. Then there is the recent opening of The St. Regis Jakarta and its hotel bar which serves as another regaled venue for cocktail enthusiasts.

Their mission has always been to create one-of-a-kind spaces for guests to find comfort, forge friendships and share happiness. And sharing synergy with this ideal is The Union Group. With nine brands and 22 outlets in its portfolio, the Indonesian hospitality company is a force to be reckoned with in Jakarta’s competitive F&B scene. Some of its concepts may ring a bell: they include The Cocktail Club, a charming and high-energy cocktail bar that was named Best Bar in Indonesia at Asia’s 50 Best Bars; and Union, an American-themed brasserie, which made its debut on the list back in 2016.

But the highly anticipated collaboration between two industry heavyweights did not come on a whim. “We’ve been friends for some years now, and our mutual respect and admiration for each other’s work has finally led to this moment,” explains Stefanie Wijono, a representative of The Union Group. Harnessing on shared values and aligned goals, both counterparts will each put their best foot forward in the Cosmo Pony partnership.

The Union Group will bring their expertise on running a successful bar in Jakarta—think manpower and operations—while tapping into their strong database of local customers. Jigger & Pony, on the other hand, will be leveraging their world-class beverage development skills to bring forth the best cocktails suited for the program and of course, injecting their signature ‘convivial hospitality’ into the setting. Kantono shares, “We hope that many of our Singapore and regional guests will put Jakarta on their travel itinerary in 2024, as it is a fantastic destination for food and drink lovers.”

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